Ukraine and Estonia deepen strategic partnership in social policy

Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Uliutin held a meeting with Estonia’s Minister of Social Affairs, Karmen Joller, who visited Ukraine on an official trip. The parties discussed current bilateral cooperation issues in social policy and outlined steps to further strengthen their partnership.

“We greatly value Estonia’s consistent support, particularly in the context of rebuilding Zhytomyr region, where several key social projects have already been implemented, including the construction of homes for foster families. Through such initiatives, we not only restore infrastructure but also enhance our child protection system, ensuring children can grow up in family environments,” said Denys Uliutin.

He emphasised that Estonia and Ukraine share a common vision of an inclusive society, where the social sector is stable, and budgetary support is effective, targeted, and sustainable.

“We are grateful for our partners’ expertise and look forward to continued cooperation as we transition to a more modern model of social policy,” the Minister added.

During the meeting, the parties discussed Estonia’s support for key areas of Ukraine’s social sector transformation, including the introduction of new quality standards for social services. Particular emphasis was placed on the gradual shift from institutional care to family-oriented models, the development of inclusive education, and the expansion of social services for children with disabilities.

The participants also addressed challenges in pension provision. Ukraine shared its plans to introduce a three-tier pension system and the need to ensure sustainable and fair payments. Estonia, in turn, presented its experience in reforming its pension system and standardising social services.

Karmen Joller expressed hope that the war would end, allowing Estonia to assist in rebuilding Zhytomyr and share its experience, while noting that Estonia was also learning from Ukraine. She acknowledged that Estonia was not exceptionally successful or flawless, emphasising the value of learning from others’ mistakes, which Estonia did not conceal. She mentioned that Estonia had learned to prepare for crises, recognising their inevitability, citing past experiences with COVID and the current war-related crisis, and stressing the need to be ready for any circumstances. She further stated that supporting Ukraine was a matter of principle for Estonia, as she believed the two nations were very similar, sharing similar ways of thinking and many values and ideas.

Ukraine and Estonia share a long-standing partnership in the social sector, including an existing Social Security Agreement that regulates pension insurance, social insurance for accidents, unemployment, and family benefits. In 2025, both parties agreed to amend these agreements due to legislative changes, with final coordination currently underway.

In conclusion, the parties agreed to establish a joint working group to update the Social Security Agreement between Ukraine and Estonia. Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity highly values Estonia’s consistent support and looks forward to further deepening strategic partnership amid post-war recovery and social transformation.